MOTHERWORT. 255 



ing in pots. They are here mentioned rather to speak 

 of their dangerous tendency than to recommend their in- 

 crease. 



MOTHERWORT. 



LEONURUS. 



LABIATE. DIDYNAMIA GYMNOSPERMIA. 



The common kind is called in French, I'agripaume ; la cordiale. — 

 Italian, agripalma ; cardiaca. 



The Common Motherwort, and the Curled, when the 

 seeds are once sown in the spring, require no further care 

 than occasionally to water them, and to keep them clear 

 of weeds. The roots last many years : they are usually 

 of a pale red in the first, pure white in the latter kind. 



The Small-flowered, Tartarian, and Siberian, require no 

 more care than the other kinds, but to sow them oftener. 

 They do not blow till the second year, and blow but 

 once. Their colours are flesh-coloured, yellow, and red : 

 blowing from June to August, 



In a garden they sow their own seeds ; and, when once 

 introduced, give no further trouble. 



In Japan, the Motherwort is in great estimation. It 

 seems there was formerly, to the north of the province of 

 Nanyo-no-rekken, a village situated near a hill covered 

 with Motherwort flowers. At the foot of the hill was a 

 valley, through which ran a stream of pure water, formed 

 by the dew and rains that trickled down the sides of the 

 hill. This water was the ordinary beverage of the villagers, 

 who generally lived to the age of a hundred, or a hiuidred 

 and thirty. To die at seventy was considered as a pre- 

 mature death. Thus the people have still an idea that 



